Healing // d.m.

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⛔️ Trigger Warning ⛔️

• Flashback: Catherine Ariendra 16 years old  •

  MADAME Pomfrey was showing Catherine the different types of herbs and fungus they have in the Hospital Wing. They were both sitting side by side side at the station on the far back corner of the room, sharing a pot of tea. It was starting to get late and way past curfew, but Madame Pomfrey let her stay over until midnight.

  "What about this one, what do you think?" Madame Pomfrey handed her a green slimy plant that resembles a bundled rat tail.

  "From it's appearance, I believe this is Gillyweed." Catherine examined the plant further. She remembered Neville giving one to Harry for the second task of the tournament. "Besides giving gills to anyone who consumes it, it has healing properties as well. It helps drowning victims release water from their lungs, if I'm not mistaken."

  Madame Pomfrey beamed proudly at her and patted her hand. "You're going to make an excellent healer one day Catherine. Just don't forget me when you're at the top yeah?"

  Catherine gave her a shy smile, "I would never forget you Madame Pomfrey."

  They move on discussing several more plants and herbs. Testing Catherine's abilities on its function and contraindications.

  "Now this one is Dittany, notice the dark green colour of the stems. Quite rare these little gems. Hard to brew correctly. It can heal lots of diseases as you know. Mix it with silver and it can cure werewolf bites. You can also eat it raw to cure shallow wounds. It's what we gave Mr. Malfoy earlier, it prevents any lasting scarring on the skin." Madame Pomfrey explained, looking over at Draco Malfoy on the bed closest to them.

  The Hospital Wing was empty except for him. Professor Snape brought him in this afternoon with blood soaking through his uniform. Catherine never saw so much blood coming out of one person and it scared her terribly. He was lucky that the wounds were sealed quickly. He hasn't regained consciousness since he arrived here.

  She was the one who helped Professor Snape change him into his dark pyjamas, casting some numbing spells along the way so he wouldn't wake up due to the pain. She was helping clean the wounds when she caught a glimpse of his Dark Mark tattooed on his left arm. Her eyes locked onto the patch of inked skin and she felt her heart race.

  So it's true, she taught. The rumours swirling around the caste. Draco Malfoy was a death eater.

  It was like she found out an illegal secret and could be punished for it. Her hands trembled slightly as fixed his buttons. It wasn't only the mark she was concerned about, but the multiple slits of vertical cuts that littered above the mark also scared her. There were some on his red hand that were much deeper and still new. All of them intentional and with motive. She gulped at the thought of Malfoy being alone attempting things her mother also once attempted to do.

  Professor Snape caught her actions and looked at her with a frown. He put a hand on her shoulders firmly, startling her.

  "You will not speak of this to anyone. You will pretend you saw nothing and deny ever seeing anything. Is that clear Ms. Ariendra?" He said sternly.

  Catherine nodded, "Yes, Professor."

  Once he left, she helped Madam Pomfrey heal him as best she could. But she said the only medicine was plenty of rest and let his body restore the blood he lost with time. She taught Catherine that this is caused by the laceration curse that tears the flesh, causing massive bleeding and usually certain death if inflicted on the chest. She told her that Mr. Malfoy is extremely lucky to be alive.